Coin-actuated cam type switch



Oct. 22, 1957 c. G. TAYLOR 2,

COIN-ACTUATED CAM TYPE SWITCH Filed Dec. 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR. CHRISTOPHER G: Z3 no? Wm/ W A T TORNE Y5 Oct. 22, 1957 c. G. TAYLOR 2,810,798

COIN-AGTUATED CAM TYPE SWITCH Filed Dec. 12, 1955 z Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

CHRISTOPHER 62 274 101? ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent" COIN-ACTUATED CAM TYPE SWITCH Christopher G. Taylor, Daly City califl, assignor to Service Distributors, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 12, 1955, Serial-N0. 552,514

12 Claims. (Cl. 200- 38) This invention relates toa coin-actuated cam type switch and associated-switch mechanism.-- It has particular application in installations such as coin-actuatedwashing machines and dryers wherein, upon'deposit or a C0111.

of proper denomination, the user pushes a coin slide, which, in accordance with the present invention, closes a switch energizing themachine and likewise drives a timing cam which shuts off the machine by breaking the switch contact after a proper time interval has elapsed;

One of the principal features and advantages'of the present invention-is the fact that the device is of such simple, yet rugged, construction that service calls to repair the switch mechanism are eliminated or greatly reduced. One of the-principal sources of maintenance calls is the fact that in conventional switches a switch contact drags on a rotating switch cam. This drag relationship is eliminated in accordance with the present invention and the switchis in no load position during.

substantially all of it's cycle.

Another feature ofg'the inventionis the elimination of several of the terminalposts employed in prior construc-' tions, which makes repair simple for the Serviceman.

Another feature of the inventionis the elimination of an undesirable feature of prior constructions, namely, the fact that if the switch mechanism were not set accurately or if the machine vibrated excessively, prior art switches did not shut off the machine, thereby enabling the operator to use the machine without deposit of a coin.

Another feature of the present invention is the fact that the switch is simpler in construction and cheaper to manufacture than conventional switches.

The associated switch mechanism described herein employs two banks of switches mounted on brackets, each switch being individually replaceable and adjustable, thereby improving the accessibility of the parts for repair.

Another feature of the invention is the use of cams which can be specially designed to afford-the precise timing desired and each of the cams can be provided with a plurality of high and low dwells, thereby making the operation of the machine versatile.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that there is a fixed drive between the timing motor and the means which drives the cams, thereby eliminating the necessity of using a clutch. In addition to eliminating the clutch, the escapement and fast timer motor employed in conventional switch constructions are also eliminated. The escapement of conventional timers employs a considerable number of moving parts and is a source of trouble in operation and is initially expensive. 7

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan of a portion of a machine in which the device is installed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Patented Oct. 22, 1957 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 isa side elevation of a modified device wherein additional switches and cams are employed; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The present invention is shown installed in a coin operated machine, such as a washing machine or dryer. In such amachine the user deposits a coin in a coin slot, depresses 'a'striker bolt which contacts a switch, thereby energizing a circuit which performs the washing or drying cycle, andalso energizing an electric timing motor which, after the elapse of a predetermined time interval, shuts off the circuit until-another coin is inserted.

The coin slot structure 11 forms no part of the present invention. Such mechanisms are produced by several different manufacturers and the details of the construction thereof form no part of the present invention. Illustrative of the details of the construction of such slides are the following United States patents: 1,908,380, 1,908,752, 1,941,638, 1,992,642, 2,026,921, 2,049,597, 2,053,503.

A typical coin slide 11 employs a striker bolt guide 12. Spring 13 attached to spring bracket 14, which in turn is attached to striker bolt 16 adjacent the inner end there of, biases striker bolt 16 to its retracted position. A portion of one side edge of striker bolt 16 is formed with a rack 17 which is engaged by a circular pawl 18 mounted on striker bolt guide 12 by means of a pivot pin 19. A spring 21 biases pawl 18 toward engagement with rack 17. The structure and function of pawl 18 and rack 17 are suchthat once a coin is inserted in the appropriate holeand the user depresses striker bolt 16, bolt 16 must continue in its motion until it has reached a fully projected'position. Thereafter bolt 16 may be retracted, but it cannot again be projected until it has reached fully retractedposition and'a new coin has been inserted.

Striker bolt 16 of such a conventional coin slot mechanism is modified in accordance with the present invention by the installation of a pair of vertically positioned pins-- 26 having their upper shanks projecting well above the upper surface of bolt 16. A suitably apertured detent member 27 is mounted on pin 26 so that member 27 may move vertically along the pins. Detent member 27 has a downwardly extending finger 28 having at least a portion of its width projecting below the level of guide 12 and slightly rearwardly, as best shown in Fig. 2. One or more washers 29 may be installed on the shanks of pins 26 above detent member 27 in order to weight down the same. Finger 28 functions on the inward stroke of striker bolt 16 to energize the motor and timer circuits. By reason of the fact that detent member 27 may rise on the shanks of pins 26, on the return stroke of the striker bolt finger 28 is moved up and does not interfere with the switch mechanism.

Mounted below striker bolt 16 and adjacent the limit of its inward projection is a switch mounting bracket 31 which is suitably attached to the frame 32 of the machine. On the lower surface of bracket 31 is positioned an electric timer motor 33 of conventional construction and incorporating a reduction gear box 34 having an upwardly projecting spindle 36: Timer motor 33 and reduction gear 34 are of conventional construction manufactured by various sources. Illustrative of such timer motors are the following United States patents: 2,300,785, 2,353,- 305, 2,324,040.

Loosely mounted on spindle 36 is a disk cam 37 disposed parallel to the direction of movement of striker bolt 16, the cam being held elevated above'the surface of bracket 31 by meansof collar 38-of lesser diameter than cam 37'. The shape of cam 37-is subject to" certain modifications. In the accompanying drawings, the cam has two high and two low dwells 41 and 42, respectively, but this feature of the construction of the cam is subject to considerable modification, inasmuch as a single high and low dwell, or more than two 'high dwells may be employed. Projecting upwardly from the top of and threaded into cam 37 adjacent one high dwell 41 is a screw 4-3, the height of which may be adjusted by turning the same so that the head 44 is contacted by finger 28 in the inward movement of striker bolt'14, but finger 28 clears head 44 on the return stroke. As has been stated, cam 37 is loose on spindle 36. In order to turn the cam, a radially projecting driving key 46 is provided on spindle 36 which engages behind screw 43 and transmits the turning motion of spindle 36 to cam 37. It may thus be seen that screw 43 may advance ahead of key 46 if cam 37 is turned by an external force such as striker bolt 16, but screw 43 cannot be turned rearwardly ofthe angular position of key 46.

Mounted angularly and to one side of cam 37 is a single pole double throw snap switch 51 having a mounting bracket 52 attached to bracket 31. The construc tion of such switches is also conventional and forms no part of the present invention. Three lead wires 53 are connected to switch 51. An outwardly projecting switch finger 54 which serves as a cam follower engages cam 37 when a high dwell 41 of cam 37 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and moves finger 54 outwardly and causes switch 1 to be thrown to one position. When high dwell 41 passes out of contact with switch finger 54, switch 51 snaps to the oppoiste position, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby breaking the former set of contacts and establishing a difference set of contacts.

In operation, when cam 37 reaches the position shown in Fig. 1, high dwell 41 engages switch finger 54 which throws switch 51 to shut off the current which energizes the operating circuit of the machine (not shown) and also shuts ofi the current which energizes timer motor 33. Accordingly, spindle 36 stops rotation. When the user deposits a coin and depresses striker bolt 16, finger 28 engages screw 43 and moves it is a counterclockwise direction. This advances high dwell 41 out of contact with switch finger 54, despite the fact that spindl 36 has not turned, and the mechanism then occupies the position shown in Fig. 3. Switch finger 54 is depressed, causing switch 51 to throw in the opposite direction, energizing the electric circuit driving the machine and also energizing timer motor 33 which turns spindle 36 and key 46. After a short time interval key 46 once more engages behind screw 43 and causes cam 37 to turn as driven by timer motor 33 until a subsequent high dwell 41 reaches the same position shown in Fig. 1.

Meanwhile, at any time in the cycle, when the user retracts striker bolt 16, finger Z8 tilts upwardly out of contact with head 44 of screw 43. As shown in Fig. 3, switch finger 54 behind high dwell 41 of cam 37 prevents 37 from turning backward and also forces finger 23 upwardly over head 44.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 4 and wherein a start and stop switch mechanism sim ilar to that shown in the preceding modifications is in stalled above switch mounting bracket 31. Spindle 61, however, is extended considerably in length over spindle 36 of the preceding modification, so that timer motor 33 is located at a considerable distance below switch mounting bracket 31. A plurality of cams 62, 63 is mounted on spindle 61 for rotation therewith, cams 62, 63 being provided with set screws 64 so that their positions relative to spindle 61 may be adjusted. Spacer washers 66 are interposed between the cams. 62, 63 may have one or more high and low dwells 67 and 68, respectively, but as shown in the accompanying drawings, each cam is constructed with two high and two low dwells. Associated with each cam 62, 63 is a single pull double throw switch 71, 72, the switch fingers As stated, each cam.

73 of which project into the path of earns 62, 63 so that swtches 71, 72 are thrown in one direction by high dwells 67, but are thrown in the opposite direction when the high dwells advance out of contact with switch fingers 73. To improve accessibility and enable the switches to be mounted closer together, two banks of switches may be employed, several of switches 71 being mounted on one bracket 76 and additional switches 72 being mounted on the opposite bracket 77. Three earns 62 may be used to control switches 71 which in turn control various functions of an automatic washing machine, while two cams 63 control switches 72. Thus one cam may control the water pump, another the motor which turns the clothesbasket for normal run and hightorque, another may control the hot and cold water switch, still another may control the high-speed transmission solenoid and a fifth may control timer motor 33. Various combinations of cams and switches may be employed, depending upon the type of machine in which the device is installed.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the ap pended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin-actuated switch mechanism comprising a striker bolt, means for releasing said striker bolt for longitudinal movement upon deposit of a coil, a detent mounted on said striker bolt for movement therewith and pivoted movement with respect thereto, a timer motor having a shaft, a cam having at least one high well rotatively. mounted on said shaft, means for driving said cam from said shaft in a first direction of rotation and not in the opposite direction, said cam being mounted on said shaft for free movement in said first direction in advance of movement by said last-mentioned means, a projection on said cam engaged by said detent when said striker bolt is moved longitudinally to advance said cam in said first direction of rotation, and a single-pole, double-throw switch having a switch finger positioned to be engaged by said highdwellof said cam when said cam is in a first position to throw said switch in one direction and to be disengaged bysaid high dwell to throw said switch in the opposite direction when said detent advances said cam beyond said first position.

2. A switch mechanism according to claim 1 in which said detent comprises'a depending detent finger and an apertured body portion normal to said detent finger and in which is further provided at least one elongated pin on said striker bolt passing through an aperture in said body portion, whereby said detent finger may be elevated relative to said striker bolt and said body portion slid along said pin.

3. A coin-actuated switch mechanism comprising a striker bolt, means for releasing said striker bolt for movement upon deposit of a coin, a detent member mounted on and depending from said striker bolt;

said detent being movable from a position substantrally parallel to said striker bolt to a position at an oblique angle to said striker bolt, means mounting said detent member for longitudinal movement with said strikerbolt and for pivotal movement relative to said striker bolt when said striker bolt is retracted, a rotatable timer shaft,-

of said striker bolt whereby said detent finger clears said projection.

4. A switch mechanism according to claim 3 in which said driving means comprises a key projecting radially from said timer shaft and engaging behind said projection.

5. A mechanism according to claim 3 in which said rotatable member comprises a cam having at least one high dwell and which further comprises a switch having a switch finger positioned to be engaged by said cam.

6. A switch mechanism according to claim 5 in which said projection and switch finger are located relative to said high dwell so that said switch finger is thrown in one direction upon said cam reaching a position of rest, said high dwell is moved out of contact with said switch finger when said cam is moved beyond said position of rest upon said striker bolt being advanced, thereby causing said detent finger to engage said projection.

7. A switch mechanism according to claim 6 in which is further provided a timer motor driving said timer shaft and in which said switch de-energizes said timer motor when said high dwell engages said switch finger and said switch energizes said timer motor when said striker bolt is advanced.

8. In combination, a longitudinally movable bolt, a detent member mounted with an apertured first portion normally substantially parallel to said bolt and a detent finger substantially normal to said first portion depending from said bolt, means mounting said detent member for longitudinal movement with said bolt for pivotal movement relative to said bolt when said bolt is retracted, a rotatable shaft, a rotatable member on said shaft, driving means on said shaft for driving said rotatable member with said shaft in the direction of rotation of said shaft, said rotatable member being mounted on said shaft for free movement in the direction of rotation of said shaft in advance of said driving means, and a projection on said rotatable member, said projection being elevated to be engaged by said detent finger on the advance stroke of said bolt to move said rotatable member in advance of said driving means and to pivot said detent member on the retraction of said bolt, whereby said detent finger clears said projection.

9. In combination, a longitudinally movable bolt, a detent member mounted with an apertured first portion normally substantially parallel to said bolt and a detent finger substantially normal to said first portion depending from said bolt, means mounting said detent member for longitudinal movement with said bolt and for pivotal movement relative to said bolt when said bolt is retracted, a rotatable shaft, a rotatable member on said shaft, driving means for driving said rotatable member with said shaft, said rotatable member being movable for turning movement in advance of said driving means in the direction in which it is driven by said driving means, a projection on said rotatable member, said projection being elevated to be engaged by said detent finger on the advance stroke of said bolt to move said rotatable member in advance of said driving means and to pivot said detent member on the retraction of said bolt, whereby said detent finger clears said projection, a plurality of timer cams on said shaft each having at least one high and one low dwell, and a plurality of single-pole, doublethrow switches corresponding in number to said cams, each said switch having a switch finger positioned to be engaged by the high dwell of its respective cam.

10. The combination of claim 9 in which said driving means comprises a key projecting from said timer shaft and engaging behind said projection.

11. The combination of claim 9 in which said rotatable member comprises a timer cam having at least one high dwell and which further comprises a timer switch having a switch finger positioned to be engaged by said timer cam.

12. The combination of claim 11 in which said projection and switch finger are located relative to said high dwell so that said switch finger is thrown in one direction upon said cam reaching a position of rest, said high dwell is moved out of contact with said switch finger when said cam is moved beyond said position of rest upon said bolt being advanced, thereby causing said detent finger to engage said projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,067,248 Smythe Jan. 12, 1937 2,386,009 Smith Oct. 2, 1945 2,447,894 Bauman Aug. 24, 1948 2,552,675 Haufiaire May 15, 1951 2,637,431 Harris May 5, 1953 2,788,416 Kilbury Apr. 9, 1957 

